5 Ways to Eat Without Overeating this Holiday Season

5 Ways to Eat Without Overeating this Holiday Season

Moderation

We’ve always the heard the saying to enjoy everything in moderation, and that is definitely true when it comes to holiday foods. Don’t try to deprive yourself during the holidays, it most likely won’t go over well. Having an extra holiday treat here and there won’t kill you. You’re allowed to indulge a bit, just keep portions small when it comes to holiday desserts and make sure you limit how often you eat them. Going the whole season without any treats is cruel and will most likely end in binging later, so have your guilty pleasures, just keep them in moderation.

Watch the alcohol

The holidays are a time for celebration, which most likely means more alcohol. Not only does alcohol add on empty calories, but can also lead you to eating more while drinking. If you are at a gathering, limit yourself to one or two drinks to cut down on the unhealthy cravings you might be feeling afterward.

Focus on the protein

Protein-packed foods are a great way to fill up without adding a lot of sugar and empty carbohydrates. Pack your plate with low-fat meats like turkey and chicken. If you’re vegetarian, eat more of the vegetable based protein than the side dishes that are most likely to be sugar and carbohydrate heavy.

Fill up on the water

Don’t forget about water! The holidays are an easy time to drink more sugary beverages than normal. Substitute drinks for water, and drink a lot of it. Not only is water essential for your health, but drinking a glass before a meal can fill you up more as well, preventing you from overeating.

Take your time

Eating too fast is one of the easiest ways to overeat. When you don’t give your body the chance to digest food and feel full before you stop eating, chances are you’re going to end up eating more than you want. Eat slowly and enjoy each bite to give your body a chance to catch up. This way, you’ll end up getting full faster and eat less.

Most of all don’t forget to enjoy the holidays and the delicious food that comes with it, don’t be afraid to indulge a little!

Give me a call today to schedule a complimentary 15 minute health evaluation.

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

7 Steps to Detox After the Holidays

7 Steps to Detox After the Holidays

Get rid of leftovers

The holidays bring delicious homemade food, and along with that come the leftovers. Holiday leftovers can be just as good as when you cook the meal the first time and become a tempting go-to snack. Time to let go. Toss the leftovers, they most likely aren’t the healthiest dishes and it’s time to start fresh.  

Stay hydrated

Most Americans do not drink enough water, and there is no better time to start than now! Fill up your glass at least 8 times a day. Some find it easier to carry a water bottle throughout the day to remind yourself to keep hydrated. Staying hydrated can flush out toxins and detox your body, as well as keeping you feeling good.

Hit the gym

Sweating is another great way to flush out toxins. Exercise has many health benefits long term and short term. Find just 30 minutes a day to get some form of exercise, whether it’s going on a run, yoga or simply going for a walk. Getting your body moving is important for your metabolism as well as overall health.

Ditch the sugar

The holidays are a notorious time that the sugar intake starts ramping up. Now that they are over, it’s time to remove added sugar to your diet. Limit how often you eat dessert and when you do, eat in moderation. Replace sugary foods with natural sweet foods like fruit. Fruit can fix your sweet tooth and also give you a boost of vitamins.

Drink green tea

Green tea is packed with antioxidants and nutrients to help your body get back on track. It is one of the healthiest beverages you could choose, it can act as a replacement for coffee, lower your risk of cancer and protect your brain as you age.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine believe in addressing the body as a whole when illness arises or the body is run down. Because of this, acupuncture treatment works by returning the body back to balance and restoring its natural energy. Certain acupuncture points can detoxify important organs like the kidneys, colon, lungs, liver and skin.  

Relax

Don’t forget to relax and give yourself some downtime. The holidays are hectic and stressful, which can lead to bad habits and bad eating. Give yourself some time now that they are over to relax. Find activities you enjoy and make sure you make time for them every week. Detoxing is not just for improving your body physically, but mentally as well.

Give me a call today to schedule a complimentary 15 minute health evaluation.

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

http://www.modernreflexology.com/acupressure-points-for-body-detoxification/

7 Tips to be Stress-Free During the Holidays

7 Tips to be Stress-Free During the Holidays

Keep a routine

It is especially easy to lose your normal routine during the holidays due to festivities and the special occasions that tend to happen this time of year. Don’t abandon your healthy habits, keep your usual routine of diet and exercise, which is especially important when holiday foods and drinks come around. Try keeping a calendar to keep better track of your schedule.

Prioritize

It is easy to take on too much during this time of year. On top of your normal schedule, there is the obligation to see family, attend gatherings and gift-giving. You can only do so much! Prioritize and don’t be afraid to say no if you simply don’t have enough time to commit to something. The holiday season is busy and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

Watch the wallet

There is nothing that will stress you out more in the long run than spending too much money during the holidays. Make a budget and stick with it. It is incredibly easy to overspend during this time. Budget and allow yourself to spend a certain amount for the entire season, you’ll thank yourself after the holidays are over.

Make time for yourself

Although it is the season for giving, make sure to make time for yourself too. It can be stressful and overwhelming when you try to constantly please others. It is ok to say no to events that you may feel obligated to go to. One of the most important ways to stay stress-free this season is to give yourself time to relax. Do yoga, read or any other activity you like to do to relax.

Try acupuncture

There is no better time than now to try acupuncture. If you are feeling under the weather, stressed and not at your best health, acupuncture can help. Acupuncture can help lower stress levels, boost your immune system and leave you feeling relaxed. Give it a shot!

Give Back

Volunteer at your local food back or donate to a clothing drive. Giving back to the community is always important, but especially during the holidays. Spending time helping out doesn’t just help others, but can benefit you as well.

Don’t sweat the small things

Holidays are meant for family, friends and for celebration. Don’t sweat the small stuff. This is a time to relax and be thankful for the people in your life. Material objects come and go, but relationships will be there and are the most important thing of all. Put your job and your stress on the backburner for a bit and enjoy the people who mean the most around you.

Give me a call today to schedule a complimentary 15 minute health evaluation.

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20047544

Alternative Treatments to Support HIV

Alternative Treatments to Support HIV

Complementary and alternative medicine can have great effects in helping those dealing with HIV. Acupuncture, herbal treatments and other alternative medicines have found to especially help side effects from medication for HIV, as well as feelings of depression and anxiety someone with HIV may be dealing with.

The National Institutes of Health gave almost $520 million to the complementary and alternative medicine field in 2010. Included in government-sponsored trials were potential HIV therapies such as acupuncture, yoga and Reiki.

Yoga & massage to reduce pain

HIV patients deal with chronic pain, sometimes it can be debilitating. It is easy to turn to painkillers to help the pain, but these can lead to even more problems like dependency. Yoga and massage are natural alternatives that can be used to reduce pain. Massage helps relax the muscles and can help decrease joint and muscle pain. Massage is also a great mental relaxer as well.

Yoga can help improve overall health and peace of mind. Yoga positions and stretches can help mobilize the body and at the same time reduce tension areas.

Foods that can help reduce symptoms

• Eat foods rich in B-vitamins, calcium, iron. Common foods that have high amounts of these vitamins and minerals include almonds, beans, whole grains, spinach and kale.

• Antioxidant-rich food such as blueberries, cherries, bell peppers and squash.

• Take fish oil to help reduce inflammation and promote the immune system.

• Consider probiotics, probiotic supplements help support gastrointestinal and immune health.

• Green tea: has antioxidant and immune-strengthening benefits

• Maitake mushroom: Maitake mushroom also has immune and antiviral effects. Another way to take the mushroom is by an extract, which you can find at a local health store.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is used to help alleviate common symptoms of HIV like fatigue, insomnia and nausea. There are almost no side effects to acupuncture and is completely natural. Acupuncture can also hope pain management and anxiety and stress caused by HIV.

Give me a call today to schedule a complimentary 15 minute health evaluation.

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/hiv-and-aids

http://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/alternative-treatments#TreatingSymptoms3

http://www.avert.org/alternative-hiv-treatment.htm

Acupuncture and HIV

Acupuncture and HIV

More than 1 million Americans are living with human immunodeficiency virus, known as HIV. There is no official cure for HIV, although many live long lives after being initially infected. HIV destroys the body’s T-cells, which makes it harder to fight off infections and disease.

Acupuncture can help promote immunity, treat side effects of medications, and be a complementary therapy for HIV treatment.  Many patients with HIV/AIDS suffer from pain and anxiety. Acupuncture can help lower stress in patients as well as pain that results from their decreased immune system.

Patients have found that acupuncture can help relieve symptoms of fatigue, chest tightness, flu-like symptoms and digestion issues that are associated with HIV. Acupuncture proves to improve quality of life for those living with HIV and increase their energy level and mood. Treatment can lower stress and anxiety levels, which are usually high in HIV patients due to the nature of such a serious disease.

Because there are not only physical effects of HIV, but mental and emotional as well, acupuncture is a great complementary treatment to help both the body and mind handle the changes that are occurring because of the illness. Being diagnosed with HIV can be traumatizing in itself, acupuncture treatment can help calm the mind and improve overall quality of life. Although HIV is not curable, it can be managed.

“Acupuncture is one additive method of maintenance, which can help improve the quality of life for patients with HIV through balancing the forces through an individualized baseline.” - Claudia Briones

Professionals have concluded that patients who are stressed, anxious and depressed can adversely affect their health. For this reason, acupuncture works well to lower these feelings.

Most people with HIV are taking some sort of medication to help their T-cell count. Because acupuncture treatment is completely natural and involves no drugs, it can be used at the same time as Western medicine to help manage symptoms and side effects.

Acupuncture works by addressing the body as a whole. When the body’s natural energy flow is blocked or stagnated due to illness, an individual does not have optimal health. Treatment works by returning the body back to it’s natural flow and restoring health to organs and the entire body and mind.

A study done at the University of Boston found that acupuncture treatment improved overall quality of life in HIV patients.

It is believed in Traditional Chinese Medicine that HIV, which causes a high susceptibility to infections, are heat toxins in the body and burn the system out, damaging the cooling part of the body. This causes an imbalance between yin and yang in the body. This imbalance is a disruption in the body’s qi, or natural energy flow.

“CAM treatments are supportive rather than curative by nature, which helps an individual with HIV not feel like they are in limbo between life and death, but rather feeling, and truly being, alive.” - Complementary Therapies for the Treatment of HIV: In Search of the Evidence. International Journal of STD and AIDS.  

Contact an acupuncturist today if you or someone you know is living with HIV and wants to consider a natural, safe, complementary treatment.

Give me a call today to schedule a complimentary 15 minute health evaluation.

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

http://exploreim.ucla.edu/education/on-using-acupuncture-for-hiv-to-improve-quality-of-life/

https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+and+HIV+The+New+Weapon+in+the+Fight+Against+HIV+AIDS

Steps to Stay Smoke-Free

Steps to Stay Smoke-Free

So you’ve quit smoking, or maybe you’re trying and not sure how long you will last. Either way, quitting is not easy, and staying smoke-free in the long term is even harder. You may have periods of time when you’re feeling confident and a cigarette is the last thing on your mind, or you may all of a sudden have intense cravings. Below are some ways to help keep you smoke-free for a better, healthier life.

Stay positive

Having good and bad days are a part of life, and same goes for quitting smoking. Some days are going to be easier than others, but it is important on the bad days to remind yourself why quitting is worth it. Health should be number one in your life and according to the CDC, quitting smoking will lower your risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory complications and more. If you have been a smoker, you know the side effects well. Staying positive and motivated to keep the bad habit away will pay off tremendously in the long run. Talk to others who have quit or join a support group. It is always great to hear from others who are going through the same experience as you and to see success stories.

Know your triggers

Smokers usually have triggers that give them the urge to light up. Be aware of what these are and find ways to avoid them. Common triggers include stress, drinking coffee, after a meal, drinking alcohol, if someone else is smoking or feeling restless. Once you know your triggers, you can know how to handle them in a healthy manner that doesn’t include smoking. When you start to feel an urge, try deep breathing or go on a short walk. Keep your mind and body occupied.

Take up a new hobby/activity

Kicking a bad habit is the perfect time to take up a healthy one. Spend more time exercising or doing something you enjoy. Activities like biking, swimming or yoga are not only fun but also beneficial for your mental and physical health. If feeling stressed or down is a trigger for you, becoming more active can help lower these symptoms.

Don’t give up

The decision to quit smoking was probably one of the best lifestyle choices you could make. You already took that first step, and although it may seem like an uphill battle, staying smoke-free will add years on to your life and improve your quality of life tremendously. Don’t give up, and don’t get down on yourself if you cave. It is never too late to quit smoking and begin the journey to better health. 

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

5 Tips to Help Your Diabetes

5 Tips to Help Your Diabetes

There are about 29 million people in the United States who suffer from type 2 diabetes, an illness that is becoming increasingly common and is also highly preventable. With lifestyle changes, diabetes can be managed and prevented.

Aim for a healthy weight

When you have extra weight, this can cause an increase in blood sugar. Maintaining a healthy weight can keep your blood sugar at more normal levels and better overall health.

Exercise

Exercise is very important when it comes to managing or preventing type 2 diabetes. Regular exercise can help lower weight, lower stress levels, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride. Even just by adding in walks into your day can make a difference. Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least four times a week.

Diet

Having a healthy diet is a lifestyle change, and that can be hard for people.

Keep carbs in check, they tend to affect your blood sugar the most. Know how many carbohydrates are in the food you’re eating to keep them at the level you need to be for managing your blood sugar.

Avoid processed sugar. Sugar in the form of sucrose or high fructose corn syrup can spike blood sugar rapidly. For people with diabetes, it is especially dangerous.

Be on top of your schedule

Diabetes requires an everyday awareness as well as a schedule when it comes to medication and insulin. If you have trouble remembering to take your medication or test yourself regularly, try setting reminders on your phone or keep a calendar near by. Consistency can make all the difference.

Try acupuncture

Neuropathy is one result of diabetes, acupuncture can help reduce this nerve pain by boosting the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain reliever. Acupuncture has almost no side effects and is a great complementary option to reducing chronic pain.

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/natural-remedies-type-2-diabetes

http://www.ghc.org/healthAndWellness/?item=/common/healthAndWellness/conditions/diabetes/topTips.html

7 Steps to Eliminate Depression Naturally

7 Steps to Eliminate Depression Naturally

Suffering from depression can make you feel hopeless, frustrated and like your quality of life will never get better. Many feel that prescription medications don’t help, and simply mask the problem instead of helping solve it. If you are dealing with depression, it is easy to get discouraged about your treatment options. Below are ways that you can naturally reduce your depression and get you back on a road to a healthier mind and body.

Acupuncture
It is believed that acupuncture can be just as effective as antidepressants in helping depression. Acupuncture works by focusing on different points of the body to bring the body back to its natural energy flow and balance. Acupuncture points can help stimulate the body’s production of endorphins and aid the release of serotonin and dopamine, which can increase one’s mood.

Omega-3s
Taking a daily fish oil supplement can do more good than you think. It is believed that being deficient in omega-3s can cause mood swings and depression. Omega-3s are found in fish like salmon, tuna and herring and are not only good for your overall physical health but your mental health as well.

Meditation
Meditation has been proven to have many benefits. Not only does it bring the heart rate down, calm the mind and reduce stress, but it can also bring the mind to a healthier place. Two studies have found that those who practice meditation have a lower rate of relapsing than those who take medication alone.

Get outside
Spending time outdoors and in the sun can have great effects on your mood. When one doesn’t get enough sunlight, it can strongly affect how you feel and is one of the main causes of seasonal affective disorder. Try spending even just 15 to 30 minutes outside every day whether it is walking, gardening or just simply sitting outside.

Exercise
There is nothing better than the natural high you get after a good workout. Exercise, whether it is running, swimming or yoga, releases endorphins that can give you a mood boost. Try spending 30 minutes a day doing some sort of exercise. One study found that patients who worked out regularly saw a decrease in their symptoms of depression by half in 12 weeks. Not only does exercise improve your body physically, but mentally as well.

Avoid alcohol and drugs
People suffering with depression often consume damaging substances like alcohol and drugs to help mask their symptoms. It is recommended that those with depression should not have more than a drink on occasion. Alcohol and drugs affect brain chemistry and can later intensify your mood for the worse.

Take a break
Depression can often worsen when you are feeling stressed and overworked. Try to take some time off to relax. If it isn’t possible to take vacation time, try to fit in at least an hour a day of relaxation time. Whether it’s meditating, reading or closing your eyes for a bit, take some time for deep breaths and a way to shut off from the rest of the world.

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMANew York Sports Acupuncture(888) 375-5444www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

Alternative Treatments for Depression

Alternative Treatments for Depression

About 19 million American adults suffer from depression and most find their current treatment options ineffective along with a slew of unwanted side effects.  Many who are prescribed antidepressants find that the medication only masks the problem, and does not cure it. However there are alternative treatments that have been proven effective without harmful side effects.

Massage Therapy: Massage therapy is not just beneficial for your body physically, but mentally as well. Massage is a safe technique that has been used for thousands of years that can help calm and relax the mind. By relieving muscle tension and increasing blood flow, the body’s heart rate can lower and promote stress relief. When one is less stressed, depression can be improved. For those suffering with depression, seeing a massage therapist regularly can help increase mood and decrease feelings of sadness and anxiety.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture has been proven to be extremely beneficial for those dealing with depression. By targeting different points on the body, acupuncture works to release any blockages in the body’s energy flow and return the body and state of mind back to balance. When the body is in balance, we tend to feel physically, as well as mentally, healthy.

Yoga & Meditation: When practiced regularly, yoga and meditation have a profound effect on decreasing stress and boosting mood. Through deep breathing and poses, these practices help focus and clear the head and lower heart rate, which in turn can decrease stress levels and put thoughts and mood in a better place.

Depression is not something that is easy to deal with, nor is it something you have to go through alone. Know your alternative treatment options and begin the road to better health, for the mind and body.

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

Sources: http://bit.ly/1VQA0mC, http://bit.ly/1KbgLvE

Overcoming Depression

Overcoming Depression

One of the most common frustrations for those suffering from depression is the lack of motivation to do regular daily activities, an inability to find enjoyment and an overwhelming amount of negative thoughts. Depression cannot be simply cured by “mind over matter”, but that does not mean it can’t be treated and improved significantly. Depression is not an illness that one should have to suffer through alone, treatment and therapy can be crucial to the healing process back to better health.

Along with treatment options you may be considering, small additions to your daily routine can prove to have significant effects on lowering depression symptoms over time.

Put yourself and your mental health first

It is easy to put your health on the backburner when life gets busy and stressful. Maybe you are hating the office job you have, or you're fighting with a spouse. When life gets tough, it is easy to neglect our bodies physically and mentally. Look at life in the larger terms and understand how you take care of your health now, will affect you for years down the road. If you are suffering from depression, seeking treatment is the first step back to better quality of life and can truly make all the difference.

Get a routine going

It may be hard to keep and be motivated about a routine. However, by setting goals and habits on a daily or weekly basis, you are continuing to improve upon your condition. Just stick with it. Try to set goals for exercise, if you can go on a jog just three days a week, you’ll be boosting your serotonin, your mood and your physical health. Take time to go outside in nature and get some fresh air. Depression is hard, but getting out of your normal environment can help you get out of your head for a bit. Practicing mindfulness is something everyone should do on a daily basis. Mindfulness involves focusing on the present moment and not the past or future. By doing so, we let go of anxieties we feel about the future or negative thoughts we have about the past, eliminating feelings of worry.

Reach out

Don’t go through this alone. Chances are there are people in your life that love and care about you very much. Although it may seem hard to reach out or socialize, being around people can help you feel more connected. It is easy to isolate yourself when depression is consuming your mind and thoughts, but talking to friends and family can have profound benefits on beginning the process to better health.

Depression is not easy, but also doesn’t mean it can’t get better. Contact a medical professional about the best treatment options for you and consider alternative treatments such as acupuncture. 

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMANew York Sports Acupuncture(888) 375-5444www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

Tapping (EFT) to Eliminate OCD

Tapping (EFT) to Eliminate OCD

Many people who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder find that treatment options may not be working as well as they hoped. Emotional Freedom Technique, or tapping, is an alternative treatment that can be used to help those with OCD and lead to a healthier, stress-free life. Similar to acupuncture, EFT is based on the idea that our bodies have a meridian system that creates an energy flow throughout our body and to our organs. When there is a blockage or stagnation in this flow, illness can arise. Unlike acupuncture, tapping can easily be learned and can be a self-treatment without the needles.

How can EFT help OCD?

EFT works to correct the root cause of the problem, and in the case of OCD that is the compulsive thoughts that precede the compulsive action. Habits are extremely hard to break for those suffering with OCD, EFT works to change the mindset and energy before the behavior begins. This safe and completely harmless treatment focuses on the meridian system of the body and tapping each of the 12 meridian points 5-7 times. At the same time, it is important to focus on accepting and letting go of negative emotions that are causing compulsive behaviors.  By doing so, you are calming the mind and returning the body back to a healthy balance.

Studies done at accredited institutions such as Harvard Medical School have found the effectiveness of EFT tapping. One study found that when these meridian points are stimulated, the body’s stress and fear responses are lowered. Dr. Dawson Church has spent many years studying tapping and has found that war veterans who received tapping treatment had a 63 percent decrease in PTSD symptoms.

OCD is not something that is easily curable, but there are treatment options such as EFT tapping that have proven to be helpful with no side effects. Talk to an acupuncturist on how tapping can be incorporated into your treatment program and get you back on the road to better health!

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

Overcoming Your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Overcoming Your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder


Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not something that can be easily cured, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible. Taking an active approach to treating your OCD will only result in positives. When you decide to take the step toward better health, you would be surprised at the results.

The mind game

Those who have never dealt with mental disorders can have a hard time understanding the mental battle those with OCD face everyday. When your illness dictates your actions and defines who you are, it is not as easy as it appears to break a habit or a behavior.

The feelings that consume your mind with OCD often include negative, anxiety and fear driven thoughts that are impossible to get out of your head. Although mental illness can not go away immediately, if you participate in treatment regularly, over time you will be able to see results.

First step is seeking treatment, and sticking with it

There are many treatment options to consider when you decide to get help. Common options include Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (ERP) , which includes exposure to what is feared or obsessed and learning how to cope in healthy ways with the anxiety you feel about it. A licensed therapist will give you the treatment, which should be continued over time. Other treatments that are widely used include prescription medication such as antidepressants. Although these can be effective, they can also cause unwanted side effects and be ineffective in the long term. Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that can have great results for those suffering from OCD and help to lower the anxiety that comes along with it. No matter what options you choose, sticking with them and not giving up is important for the road to recovery.

Get ready for hard work

Overcoming OCD is not easy, and you may feel like your treatments haven’t been effective and you’re ready to quit. At this time, it will the most crucial to stick with your plans and to continue working on lowering your anxiety. There are exercises you can do every day to help little by little including practicing mindfulness and meditation. Bottom line, don’t give up, you’ll be surprised on the results you will see. Overcoming a mental illness is no easy task and life seems to get in the way too often. However, at the end of the day the only person who can help you, is you.

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com

http://beyondocd.org/expert-perspectives/articles/ten-things-you-need-to-know-to-overcome-ocd

Acupuncture for Obsessive Complusive Disorder (OCD)

Acupuncture for Obsessive Complusive Disorder (OCD)

Mental health problems are extremely common, and many times more than people expect. There are a whole host of reasons why some suffer from mental health disorders. Genetics, upbringing and environment can all play a role in a person’s wellbeing and mental health. Prescription medication to deal with these issues are also one of the most over prescribed type of drug. A lot of times these drugs mask the problem, rather than getting to the root cause and curing. They can also lead to harmful and long-lasting side effects.

OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder, is one of the most common mental health disorders. A lot of us have low levels of OCD about certain things, which is completely normal. When one suffers from serious OCD, it can greatly impede on their quality of living and everyday activities.

OCD is characterized as an anxiety disorder and involves irrational repeatedness. For example, someone with OCD may check on things or perform tasks repeatedly, causing distress and getting in the way of everyday tasks. Another common behaviour is cleaning obsessively and being irrationally afraid of germs.

This disorder affects around 2.2 million Americans and usually develops during childhood or young adulthood. There is a spectrum of OCD depending on the person, where symptoms may get better or return and get worse. This illness can be very frustrating and discouraging for the person suffering with it as well as people around them.

Most medication that is prescribed to help OCD include anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants, which come with a whole slew of side effects.

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of medicine and can also offer an alternative treatment to help OCD with the effects of drugs.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, OCD is considered to be caused by an imbalance of the kidneys. When kidneys are not functioning properly, the body and mind can become stressed.

Acupuncture works by the specific placement of needles on different points throughout the body. These points work to release blockages in the body and return the body back to its natural flow and as a result, back to health. Acupuncture is known to lower stress and anxiety levels and calm the mind. When this happens, a person is less likely to have compulsive tendencies.

If you or someone you know is suffering from OCD, ask an acupuncturist how acupuncture treatment could be the right option for better health.

Bishara Wilson, L.Ac., MSTOM, C.SMA

New York Sports Acupuncture

(888) 375-5444

www.newyorksportsacupuncture.com